Orthodontic appliance



J. W. FORD ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCE Jan. 4, 1938.

Filed Aug. 19, 1935 67% Jamea Wfbfd,

i' atented Jan. 4, 1938 p v Application Au ust 19, 1935,. Serial No. sasos I I 9 Claims. The present inventionl has to do with the orthodonticappliance of the type and construction shown and, described in Letters Patent of the United States 2,011,575 granted to me August 20,

; 1935. ."Ihatfapplianceenables the arch-barto be attached to and detached from a tooth band with the greatest ease and with the expenditure of but I a minimum amount of time as compared with those appliances available before my invention 1 of such appliance. I

, In the practical application and use of the appliance referred to it has been found that the same has a tendency to weaken at the point of connection of the anchoring stud thereof with the tooth band so that under the strains imposed on the stud at suchvpoint of connection a liability of fracture has arisen. I 7

Moreover, because of the relatively small size of the parts it has been diflicult to form the lockingmeans embodied in the former appliance, and this has added to the cost of production of the device.

The present invention has as its object to improvethe construction of the appliance covered by my aforesaid patent so as to strengthen the same and overcome the liability of fracture referred to, and also to incorporate in the appliance improved locking means of greater simplicity and durability than formerly employedand which maybe included in the appliance at less cost and with the expenditure of less labor and effort than in the former appliance.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the nature of the improvements is better under- .stood, the invention consisting substantially in the novel construction, combination and arrange- Y ment of partsh'erefinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and finally pointed out in the appendedclaims.

While the form of the invention herein shown 'is to be considered from an illustrative standpoint and not as imposing limitation or restriction on the invention.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a' perspective view illustrating conventionally the application or the hereindescribed invention to the teeth;

Fig. 2 is' a similar view, on a greatly enlarged scale, of the appliance in its open position and (or. sa -14) the separated arch-bar ready for introduction to .the appliance; I, y

Fig. ,3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, the appliance being shown in closed position,. with the archbar introduced thereto and held thereby;

Figs. 4 and 5 are face elevations of the appliance showingthe latter respectively in the open and closed positions as prior to the introduction of the arch-bar to the appliance and after the arch-bar has been introduced therein;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view as on the line 6-6, Fig. 7; and

Fig. 7 is a similar view as on the line I--'I, Fig. 5. Having reference now in detailv to the accompanying drawing, the numeral l0 designates an arch-bar commonly employed in practicing orthodontia. In the present instance, and as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 to 6, inclusive, the bar I0 is shown as preferably oblong in cross-section. But bars having any other cross-sectional shape 2 may be used.

The numeral II designates a tooth band of the usual form and construction as employed for straightening teeth, the band II being intended to surround the tooth to be treated and to be apgs plied thereto in the usual manner. According to the present invention, an anchoring collar I2 is mounted on the tooth band II so as to have a fixed connection therewith. This collar I2 is of cylindrical formation, being open at both sides, and the face thereof which lies next against the tooth band II is fixed thereto by any suitable means to unite the parts.

At opposite sides of the anchoring collar I2, and in alignment with each other, is provided a pair of slots l3 which extend in the direction of the length, of the collar and to a point somewhat beyond the medial line thereof. The open ends. of these slots lie at the face of the collar I2 which is outermost, or that face which is most remote 40 from the tooth band I I.

Rotatably mounted within the anchoring col-- lar I2.is a locking stud II, which stud also is of cylindrical contour, and at the inner end of said stud l4 'a peripheral flange I5 is provided which is of greater diameter than the diameter of the locking stud l4. The flange I5 is received by an undercut recess I6 that is formed in the inner faceof the anchoring collar I2, and by reason of this construction the locking stud I4 is precluded becoming displaced froni the anchoring collar I2 when this collar has been fixedly connected to the tooth band ll.

The locking stud I4 has a transverse groove I'I 'formed'therein, which groove extends across the 66 entirewidthofthestud. 'Ihegroove I'Iisof the same width as the slots II, as appears in Figs. 2 and. 4, and the ends of the groove l1 register with the slots II when the locking stud N has been moved to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4', thus permitting the easy introduction of the arch-bar III to the groove and slots, as when applying the arch-bar to the tooth band.

By ref observed that the ends of the groove II, at the peripheral portions of the stud I, are cut out or flared, as at l8, and these out out or flared portions are re'versely arranged with respect to each other, as clearly seen in Fig. 8, whereby the looking stud I4 is capable of a limited turning move-' ment in reversed directions within the anchoring collar i2. By the formation oi the cut out or flared portions II a pair of angularly-disposed contact faces I! is provided within the groove l1, and these contact faces I! are designed to abut against the opposite faces of the arch-bar II when the groove i1 is in alignment with the slots ll. Hence, in that position of the parts the arch-bar it either may be introduced to the anchoring collar and the locking stud or be removed therefrom.

By the formation of the cut out or flared portions it there is also provided a pair of overhanging retaining lips 20, and when the archbar It has been introduced into the groove l1 and the slots I3, and the locking stud has been rotated to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the retaining lips 20 overlie the arch-bar l0 and. thereby hold the bar in the slots I! so as to maintain the arch-bar in locked relation to the tooth band II.

In manipulating the locking stud H to rotate the same to both of its locking and unlocking positions the end of a screw-driver or similar implement may be inserted into the groove ll, thereby permitting the locking stud M to be rotated in either direction with freedom and ease, and when it has been positioned to the desired point the screw-driver is removed, and the looking stud ll then will remain in theposition to which it has been adjusted.

Itwill be understood that before the anchoring collar I! is fixedly connected to the tooth band il thelocking stud is fitted within the band so that the flange I! of the stud will be seated within the undercut recess It. With these parts thus assembled the face of the collar l2 next adjacent to the tooth band II is fixedly connected to the cetol"igs.2,3,4,5and6,itwillbe band, and in this manner the locking stud ll is I held effectually in place but capable of free rotation so as to position the same for locking and unlocking purposes.

when it is desired to utilize the present invention the tooth band II is applied to the tooth to be treated, and with the application of the arch-bar II the locking stud M is rotated so that the ends of the groove i! will register with the slots l3. Thereupon the arch-bar is inserted in the groove i1 and the slots [3 to occupy the position shown in Fig. '1, or at the bottom of the slots l3. When so positioned the arch-bar I0 is clear of the overhanging retaining lips 20 and the locking stud ll is free to be rotated. That rotation will throw the retaining lips 20 over the arch-bar l0, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5, thereby acting to clampor retain the arch-bar II in position within the appliance. With the rotation of the locking stud H to the position described the contact faces i9 will not be in abutting relation to the sides of the arch-bar it but and the latter rotated to bring the contact faces spaced away from thes ame, as shown-in 6.

The appliance is now in locked position and remains so until the time arrives for further ad- Justment of the arch-bar on' the tooth of the patient in accordance with the progress of the treatment being effected.

When it is desired to release the arch-bar from the appliance, the tip of the screw-driver or similar instrument is inserted into the groove i1 l0 is into abutting relation with opposite faces of the arch-bar ll, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and ,4. The groove I1 is now aligned with the slots ii, and the overhanging retaining lips 20 have been retracted from their locking positions. The arch-bar i0 is now free to be moved outwardly from the slots It and thereby becomes released from the appliance. 1

By the present invention the ilxed connection of the face of the anchoring collar with the tooth band II, which extends'around the entire circumference of the collar, gives a very strong mounting of the collar on the tooth band. This enables greater resistance to be offered to the strains imposed on the anchoring collar, and liability of fracture at this point of connection is reduced to a minimum.

Furthermore, with the locking stud l4 constructed as herein shown and described, and the provision therein of the groove i'I, the flared portions l8 and the overhanging retaining lips 20, locking means of greater simplicity than in the former appliance referred to are provided, enabling the appliance to be moved to locking and unlocking positions through the simple expedient of a screw-driver applied to the groove H. No special instruments, therefore, are required, and the simplicity of construction which has been included for the purposes described also permits the incorporation of the locking means at less cost and with the expenditure of less labor and effort than in the former appliance.

. I claim:

1. In an appliance of the character described, the combination with a tooth band, of an anchor- 45 ing device carried by said tooth band and having provision for receiving an arch-bar transversely thereof, a locking device carried by and rotatably mounted within said anchoring device and also having provision for receiving the arch-bar transversely thereof, and means carried'by the locking device and engageable with the arch-bar to hold the latter within the anchoring and looking devices.

2. In an appliance of the character described, the combination with a tooth band, of an anchoring device carried by said tooth band and adapted to receive an arch-bar, a locking device carried by and rotatably mounted within said anchoring device and adapted also to receive the archbar, and means carried by the locking device and overlying the arch-bar at a point in its range of movement to hold the arch-bar within the anchoring and locking devices.

3. In an appliance'of the character described, the combination with a tooth band, of an anchoring device carried by said tooth band and adapted to receive an arch-bar, a locking device carried by and rotatably mounted within said anchoring device and adapted also to receive the arch-bar, and a retaining lip carried by the looking device and adapted to overlie the arch-bar at a point in its range of movement tohold the :irch-bar within the anchoring and locking deces.

ing collar carried by said tooth'fband and provided with slottedportions adapted to receive an arch-bar, a locking membcjar rotatably mounted within said anchoring collar. ahd slotted to receive the arch-bar, and .a retaining lip carried by the locking member and adapted to overlie the arch-bar at a point in its range of movement to hold the arch-bar within the anchoring and locking devices.

6. In an appliance of the character described, the combination with a tooth band, of an anchoring collar carried by said tooth band and provided with oppositely-disposed inwardly-extending slots adapted to receive an arch-bar, a locking member rotatably mounted within said anchoring collar and provided with a transverse groove adapted to receive the arch-bar, and means carried by the locking member and adapted to overlie the arch-bar at a point in the range of movement of the locking member to hold the arch-bar within the anchoring collarand the locking member,

7. In an appliance of the character described, the combination with a tooth band, of an anchoring collar carried by said tooth band and provided with oppositely-disposed slotted portions adapted to receive an arch-bar, a locking member rotatably mounted within said anchoring collar and transversely slotted to receive the arch-bar, the slots of the anchoring collar and the slotted portion of the locking member being adapted to register for receiving the arch-bar, and means carried by the locking member and adapted to overlie the arch-bar at a point in the range of movement of the locking member to hold the arch-bar within the anchoring collar and the locking member.

8. In an appliance of the character described,

the combination with a tooth band, of an anchoring collar carried by said tooth band and provided with oppositely-disposed slotted portions adapted to receive an arch-bar, a locking member rotatably mounted within said anchoring collar and transversely slotted to receive the arch-bar, the slots of the anchoring collar and the slotted portion of the locking member being adapted to register for receiving the arch-bar, and a pair of overhanging retaining lips carried by the locking member and adapted to overlie the arch-bar at a point in the range of movement of the locking member to hold the arch-bar within the anchoring collar and the locking member.

9. Inan appliance of the character described, the combination with a tooth band, of an anchoring collar carried by said tooth band and provided with slotted portions adapted to receive an archbar, a locking member rotatably mounted within said anchoring collar and slotted to receive the arch-bar, the slots of the anchoring collar and the slotted portion of the locking member being adapted to register for receiving the arch-bar, the slotted portion of the locking member having its ends flared, and a pair of overhanging retaining lips formed by the flaring of the ends of'said slotted portion and adapted to overlie the arch-bar at a point in the range of movement of the locking member to hold the arch-bar within the anchoring collar and the locking member.

JAMES W. FORD. 

